License-plate holder



Apl 21, 1925.

.'C. T. BOWEN ET AL LICENSE PLATE HOLDER Filed Feb. 1. y1923 [Vlr/rasage i` Chio, and Cleveland, 'State of` 01110,' have invented a new'and 1mietented Apr. 21, 1232259 ,UNIED A: y ,Y i a 5 ST-He were Application frledcbruary To all who/1n 'it 'mag/:convener l v' Hf 1 Be it known that we, CLIFFORD T. BOWEN and'r's'ii C. Bo\vnN,"citizens of the United Statesj'and residents, respectively, of Wellington, in the'lcounty 'of Lorain, State of` county of Guyahogm proved cLicerise-Plate Holder, of which the following isla full, clear, and exact descripnt'io'nl f This'lnvention relates to improvements in license plate holders, and more particularly p to suchdevices for use inconnectionwith motor vehicles,"any object of the* invention being to provide animproved construction of holder 4which 1s yadapted to secure vany l A`ordinary',siZe4` and shape* of license plate,

supporting Vthe same" either at the 'center or" a Vpoint adjacent 'either end, andfwhich` `cany be conveniently attached to anyfrlesired part lof an"autoniobile.` y i A 'further objectw'sfto' provide a fholderjv of thecharalcter stated, which will embody but few inexpensive parts, which Vcanbe as- 'seinbled and adjusted by any one of average intelligence, andwhich will most etliciently secure the license plate at the point desired.

A further object is to provi-de a holder of the character stated, which can be sold at a reasonably low price and yet which will be strong and durable in use.

llVith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations, and arrangement of parts, as will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

1n the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is a view in rear elevation of our improved holder showing the license plate y in dotted lines.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but illustrating a modification.

Figure 3 is a view in transverse section on the line SMI-3, of Figure 1.

Figure 4,- is a fragmentary View in transverse section on the line 1-J1, of Figure 3.

1 and represent the clamping members of our improved holder. r1`hese members 1 and 2 are preferably stamped or otherwise formed from sheet metal, and have their longitudinal edges bent backward upon the main portion of the members, but spaced slightly from the members constituting holding flanges 3, which project over the front Yan upwardly projectingztongue l, 1923. Serial No. 616,342.

face ofi the license-plate 4L so that the members constitute aws of an appreciable length so as tofrlirmly` grip the edges of the license plate."y f

. y l "The upper jaw 1 at its central portion is formed with a depending tongue o having anlintegral perforated plateiG thereon pro- 'jecting from its lowest edger at right` angles thereto-1 The lower clamping :member l2 has 7 which is bent at Vright anglesforming a=clamping plate 8, which ris disposed parallel to the clampingtplate',and is perforatedfor the reception of a clampingA bolt orscrew 9, a 'nut 10,v beingV positionedon the lower end of the screw or holt, with the head 11 of the nut for-bolt against the upper face of plate 6.

l At the outer end of the plate 8 which is integralV with tongue 7, a downward integral extension12 is provided, andthis extension y12is approximately parallel with the tongue 7 andspaiced therefrom a distance to accommodate the; nut 10, but prevent rotary move- Inientof the nutrso=that by manipulating the head 11 of the clamping screw, the two clamping members :can beareadily adjusted relative to the license plate, or removed altogether' therefrom.

In Figures 1, 3 and et, we illustrate an s angle bracket 13 as a means for connecting the extension 12 with any suitable support or part of the automobile. This angle bracket 13 is also preferably of sheet metal, its vertical member 14 positioned against the extension 12 and its horizontal member 15 having a perforation 16 therein for the reception of a securing bolt or other device.

A bolt or screw 17 and a nut 18 are utilized to secure the bracket 141 and the extension 12, and to hold these parts against possibility of pivotal movement, they are formed with registering countersunk portions 19. rlhesc countersunk portions forming in elfect, grooves and webs which prevent pivotal movement, and in order to provide both vertical and horizontal interlocking webs and grooves, we preferably form the eountersunk portion of general star shape so that the nut 1S positioned in the center thereof will be held against turning movement, so that by manipulating the head of the bolt or screw the parts can be readily clamped or released.

When an angle bracket, such as shown at 13, is not desirable by reason of the fact that the license plate is to be secured to a horizontal rod plate, or other such support, we provide a bar as a substitute for the bracket 13. This bar 20, is likewise formed with an oifset portion 19 and is made with longitudinal slots 2l for any desired securing devices,

It will thus be noted that with ourr improved clamp, the license plate can be securely held at any point throughout its length, and rigidly secured in such position when properly attached to a vehicle.

Furthermore, the license plate can be easily and quickly inserted and removed, and when in place will also be securely held.

It will also be noted that the nuts 10 and 1S are held against turning movement so that by manipulating the heads of the screws or bolts, either by screw driver or wrench, a proper adjustment can be had, and also the supporting parts, either the angle clamp 13 or the bar 20, as the case may be, are securely held against possibility of pivotal movement.

Various slight changes might be made in the general form and arrangement of parts described Without departing from our invention, and hence we do not limit ourselves to the precise details set forth, but consider ourselves at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A license plate holder, comprisinga pair of clamping members, overturned edges on the clamping members receiving the edges of the license plate, tongues on the members at the back of the license plate, plates projecting at right angles from and integral with the tongues, said plates having aligned openings therein, a bolt or screw projected through Vsaid openings, a nut on one end of the bolt, an extensionon one of' said plates and extending in spaced and. parallel relation to the tongue carrying the plate and between which and the tongue the said nut is located, whereby the nut is held against turning movement, 'and a supporting member clamped to the extension and` adapted to be secured to a vehicle;

2. A license plate holder, comprising a pair of clamping members, a bolt and nut clamping the members to a license plate, an extension on one of said members, a supporting member, said extension and said supporting member having registering starshaped countersunk portions adapted to hold the said extension and supporting member against relative pivotal movement, a nut iitting within the countersunk portion of said extension and held by the walls thereof against turning movement, and a screw or bolt projected through the extension and the supporting member and screwed into the nut. i

Y .CLIFFORD T. BOWEN ASA C. BOWEN. 

